Proctor’s lives — for now

The developer intending to remake the east side of Fourth Street in downtown Troy has backed away from its plan to raze the historic but long neglected Proctor’s Theater.

Troy City Council President Clement Campana and other city officials on Wednesday said Columbia Development, an Albany company, has quietly taken demolition of the theater off the table. Erica Veil, president of a grass-roots group formed to save the structure, says Columbia has also notified her of its revised plans.

Nobody is saying, however, that Proctor’s has secured a future as a restored theater. Campana and Veil both said Columbia plans only to secure and stabilize the deteriorating and badly damaged auditorium.

When and how the theater would be restored is unclear, they said.

It was over a year ago when Columbia Development announced a $15 million plan to remake office space attached and adjacent to the theater while gutting the theater interior for new office space. That plan had the backing of both the city of Troy and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which bought Proctors in 2004 with plans for a hotel and conference center.

Many city residents had long since given up hope that Proctor’s, which was built in 1914, could reopen. After all, the theater has been closed since 1978, the year before it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Still, the demolition plan quickly found organized opposition from folks who don’t want the theater razed.

The group, now known as Troy Proctor’s Foundation Inc., argued then, and still believes, that the theater is a valuable community asset that can be restored — and even operated at a profit.

Columbia’s apparent shift in thinking comes amid a growing consensus that the office building attached to Proctor’s would make an ideal site for Troy City Hall. To many, the possibility of having city offices linked to the theater — rather than private office space — has made an operating theater seem more plausible.

“I can’t see how it’s not a win-win for everyone,” Veil said. “An historic property gets renovated, and the city also gets a new home in an historic building.”

Joe Nicolla, president of Columbia Development, could not be reached for comment.

The city, meanwhile, on Wednesday said it has scheduled the third and final public meeting with Sasaki Associates, the consultant hired to help the city determine where to locate City Hall, which has left its longtime home on Monument Square for a temporary location on Sixth Avenue.

Sasaki is also helping the city determine what to do with the old City Hall site. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday in Christ Church United Methodist, on State Street downtown.

RPI declined to comment on the possible restoration of Proctor’s. The school would only issue a statement saying it is pleased the building is being considered as a potential City Hall.

Veil said Proctor’s Foundation may be asked to take charge of a Proctor’s renovation. Indeed, the group, which is holding a fundraiser at 6 p.m. Saturday night, has already shifted its focus from campaigning to prevent the demolition to raising money for restoration.

A City Hall-Proctor’s Theater combination would not be entirely novel.

The City Hall in Biddeford, Maine, for example, is attached to the nonprofit City Theater, while the City Hall in nearby Portland is attached to the popular Merrill Auditorium.

Could such an arrangement work in Troy?

Chris Churchill

2 Responses

Proctors needs to be restored, and made a useful theater, we need some beauty in Troy, Every time people walk into the palace and see the grand stage, the beautiful decor they are in awwwwh of its beauty. We need this in troy, not just the music hall. Troy’s Proctors can bring new life to the city, supporting restaurants, and shops. We cannot lose this history.

If city hall could be located next to it that would be fine, but if they are going to destroy any of the beauty or grander of the theater, then i am opposed to it.

The atrium is an an eye sore, and some beautiful building were lost to make way for that monstrosity, we cannot afford to loose another one.

This is great news for historic theater enthusiasts everywhere, but especially for the Citizens of Troy and the hard working Friends group. It is the first, important step to a secure future for Proctor’s. Kudos to the City and the developers for recognizing the unique importance of this piece of Troy’s cultural history!